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Ajo Unified students recognized for FAFSA gains and BBB ethics contest wins
Summary
Ajo Unified students led 'most improved' FAFSA completion among small Arizona districts and three students won the Better Business Bureau's 2025 student ethics video contest; the board presented scholarships and praised staff who supported the students.
Ajo Unified District officials on Monday evening celebrated a jump in FAFSA completion and honored three students who won a regional ethics video contest.
School staff told the board the district was recognized as among the top three small-school districts in Arizona for improved FAFSA completion, with an announced rate of 73.53% for current seniors 'as of Monday.' Miss Adam, who presented the superintendent's recognitions, said the district aims to reach 100% FAFSA completion next year and credited staff and counselors for the improvement.
The board also read a letter from Irene Copa, chief executive officer of the Better Business Bureau serving Southern Arizona, announcing that Ajo High School students Alana (Ariana) Valdez, Marina Nelson and Silus Manuel won the 2025 student ethics video contest. The winners were honored at the BBB’s Torch Awards dinner; the school reported scholarship awards of $500 for Valdez, $1,000 for Nelson and $2,000 for Manuel.
'A great collaborative team effort by students and staff,' Miss Adam said, asking the audience to congratulate the winners. Student speaker Ariana Valdez told the meeting she was grateful for teacher support and said the symposium experience reinforced how ethics matter in future studies and careers.
District leaders displayed the students' work to the audience and urged the community to recognize the students when they see them in town. The recognitions and scholarship awards concluded the superintendent's report.
The board then moved on to other agenda items.
